The Montreal School Service Center (CSSDM) wants to buy the mother house of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame, a large four-story heritage building located in the heart of downtown, in an area deprived of an elementary school.
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Just a few steps from the Atwater metro station, the building on Sherbrooke Street West will change its purpose in a few years: it has become far too big for the ten sisters.
It was therefore put on sale a few months ago. Several buyers showed interest, including the CSSDM: in February, its board of directors had on the agenda the signing of the promise to purchase for the acquisition of the building.
The service center indicates that it “closely follows all real estate opportunities that can meet the educational needs of the Peter-McGill sector”, but specifies that the information concerning this offer is confidential.
The construction of a new primary school in the area is “essential”, however, adds CSSDM spokesperson Alain Perron.
For the current school year, a little less than 600 primary school students from this sector of the metropolis must go to a school in Westmount, due to a lack of school in their neighborhood.
There are no French-speaking public primary schools in downtown Montreal. Until recently, the FACE school, managed jointly by the CSSDM and the English-Montreal school board, welcomed primary school students, but the heritage building which houses it is so dilapidated that the children had to be relocated.
Des archives à conserver
Built from 1911 to 1913, then renovated in 1990, the building on rue Sherbrooke is still occupied, notably by offices, but is far too large for the needs of the nuns.
It’s “always the same thing” that forces the sisters to leave: “the demographic curve,” explains Suzie Prince, general director of the Congregation of Notre-Dame, whose members are on average 88 years old.
The broker who was entrusted with the sale writes on his website that “subject to the approval of the City, the property offers an opportunity for densification of up to 73,400 buildable square feet thanks to the addition of a building “back”.
Among the uses that could be made of the building, we cite “multi-housing”, a retirement home, a health establishment, a school establishment or even a community establishment.
Several offers have been received and the religious congregation will sell the building at “fair market value,” says Mme Prince, who adds that the nuns put their mission above all else.
“It’s always been that, it’s always going to stay that way. [Les sÅ“urs] are very sensitive to the heritage aspect, to greenery, to community projects that could serve society. In education, of course: education is at the top of the list,” explains the general director.
The Congregation of Notre-Dame was founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys, to whom we owe the first school in Montreal, opened in 1658.
The sisters’ move is not for tomorrow. Their archives must first be moved, most likely to a new pavilion which will be built on the grounds of Maison Saint-Gabriel, in the Pointe-Saint-Charles district.
These are “precious archives dating from the beginning of the colony,” explains Suzie Prince.
As for the sale of the building, it must receive approval from the Vatican.
